Like an adjacent lot from 1955, the No. 250 Topps card from their classic 1954 issue utilizes an incredible portrait of the returning war hero that would be used countless times over the coming years on every imaginable product from Moxie and root beer to cereal, Chesterfields and chewing tobacco. The offered card is the second of two cards featuring Teddy Ballgame in 1954 Topps, with the pair marking the first appearance by the legendary slugger on a Topps baseball card issue. With Ted having missed virtually all of 1952 and most of 1953 in favor of his Marine Corps fighter pilot heroics in Korea, Topps was so enthused about his return the company gave him two cards in the issue, the first and last cards of the set, the only time they ever accorded such an honor. The No. 1 Williams card with the orange background is an important and expensive card by virtue of it being Ted and also as the No. 1 card in the set, but the No. 250 is the artistic triumph, with the vivid yellow background at the instantly recognizable portrait. This example is outstanding, with near-perfect centering and just the barest whispers of wear to two corners, along with luminescent red and green spot color on the reverse.